PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLISHING

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1 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLISHING Abu Dhabi is hosting Malaysia Services Exhibition 2011(MSE 2011) UAE is Malaysia s largest trading partner in West Asia HH Sheikha Lubna opens MSE 2011) Over 100 service providers from six industry clusters Dubai, 17 April 2011: Her Highness Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE s Minister of Foreign Trade and Honourable YB Dato Mustapa Mohammed, Malaysia s Minister of International Trade and Industry, opened the fourth edition of the Malaysia Services Exhibition on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The Exhibition which will be held from April 17-20, is under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade and is supported by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, with a call to the business communities of Malaysia and the UAE to enhance their strategic alliances as the two countries are focusing on greater diversification. MSE 2011 is held concurrently with two international exhibitions, also held in ADNEC, the City Scape and City Build. MSE 2011, organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), will bring together as many as 100 Malaysian companies from a diverse range of services. The exhibition aims to provide service providers from Malaysia a networking avenue with major players in the Gulf region in various sectors such as Construction & Professional Services Related to Construction; Energy, Power Generation & Environment Management Services; Oil & Gas; ICT; Healthcare & Hospital-Related Services; and Specialised Training & Business Services. Her Highness Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi said, The fact that this exhibition has been carried out annually in the UAE underscores UAE s commercial and economic importance for Malaysia and Malaysia s importance to the UAE. These exhibitions play an important role in expanding the commercial and investment ties that exist between our two countries and in strengthening our strategic alliance. Menara MATRADE, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 1

2 She added on during the launching ceremony of MSE 2011 in Abu Dhabi, In 2010, overall non-oil trade with Malaysia was USD 3.1 billion, registering a 7% increase from the year before. Current UAE exports to Malaysia mainly comprise crude petroleum & refined petroleum products, and chemicals and chemical products, while imports from Malaysia include electrical and electronic products, machinery, appliances and parts, jewellery, and palm oil. It is without a doubt that the recent signing of the GCC Malaysia Framework Agreement on Economic, Commercial, Investment and Technical Cooperation in January of this year, will play a significant role in further advancing our commercial and economic ties. As our two countries continue to focus on greater diversification to drive our respective development goals for the coming years, I believe the key is to maintain strategic alliances between the two countries, especially between the business communities. Her Highness added. In the UAE, our economic diversification strategy has greatly contributed towards economic development, strengthening existing sectors, and to the rise of new industries such as renewable energy, nuclear energy, advanced technologies, and logistical services. She said, As a result, our non-oil sectors contribution to GDP has soared to over 71% with our foreign trade sector in particular playing an important role in this regard with a 15% contribution alone to GDP. Moreover, our non-oil foreign trade grew by 14 per cent in 2010 to USD 205 billion. In Malaysia, the economy has nurtured its services sector as its main revenue generator. Service industries in fact account for a significant percentage of the country s GDP, with the national Industrial Master Plan covering 2006 to 2020 specifically identifying service businesses as key elements within the national development strategy. Her Highness confirmed. While there are many other growth sectors such as healthcare, special events, education, information and communications technology, and even Islamic finance that merit closer collaboration from our sides, it is also important for us to sustain the success of our most productive trade areas. The UAE is one of more than 56 countries that benefit from Malaysia s service expertise. Many Malaysian businesses have opted to set up permanent bases on our shores and we would like to invite those interested in doing business with our country to likewise avail of our numerous commercial and investment incentives, such as a strategic location which places us a few hours away from the top European and Asian markets; world-class free zones; 100 per cent repatriation of capital and profits; easily accessible raw materials; cheap energy sources; and zero corporate profit and personal income taxes. Menara MATRADE, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 2

3 Economic stability is also a key factor in considering foreign investments and partnerships. In this regard, I am pleased to say that the UAE has been one of the region s most economically resilient countries in recent years. We have become home to 25 per cent of the world s top 500 companies and one of the world s top 30 trading nations. We are in fact the leading Foreign Direct Investment destination in the Middle East and 14th in the world Her Highness explained. Finally, Her Highness said, As two of the world s most vibrant open economies, Malaysia and the UAE have been an embodiment of nations with a passion for excellence, quality and innovation. The Malaysian Services Exhibition has become a special opportunity for us to celebrate our productive partnerships and at the same time create new ones, and so I join all of you in looking forward to a highly successful event over the coming days. From his side, The Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), YB Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed said that Malaysia is confident that West Asia, in particular, the GCC countries will continue to be its trade partners in the services sector. As of last year, Malaysian construction companies have completed a total of 556 construction and infrastructure development projects globally, valued at more than USD14.8 billion. Seventy four per cent of the projects are in the Middle East. Among the notable projects involving Malaysian contractors in the Middle East include the Jamarat Bridge, Mecca; Bahrain International Circuit; Abu Dhabi F1 circuit; and Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi, the Minister added. In his speech, Minister elaborated that Malaysian ICT companies have captured over USD200 million worth of ICT projects which are at various stages of implementation including those at the Abu Dhabi Airport, Smart Card and Biometric Solutions for the City of Abu Dhabi, Software Development Solutions and Services for the Nakiel Group in UAE and for Alquera Group Holding (Abu Dhabi). On healthcare and hospital related services, Minister explained that Malaysia is able to provide world-class medical services at affordable prices. Malaysian is highly qualified medical practitioners perform with state-of-the-art facilities. Specializing in various fields from oncology to cardiology to aesthetics, we provide high quality services at a much lower cost. For example, a Heart Bypass costing USD130,000 in the United States would cost only less than sixth of that in Malaysia. Some well known hospitals and healthcare service providers participating in this exhibition include KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Sime Darby Medical Centre and the National Heart Institute (IJN). Malaysia holds the distinction of being the first country in the world to have a full-fledged Islamic banking system operating in parallel with the conventional banking system. The Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) offers a platform for financial institutions to conduct Menara MATRADE, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 3

4 Islamic financial activities. Various incentives are available to foreign financial institutions participating in the MIFC including licences for conducting foreign currency businesses, attractive tax incentives and facilitative immigration policies. On the investment perspective, the Minister announced that foreign investors continue to show significant interest in making Malaysia a base for their investments in high value activities including in emerging technologies. Malaysia received substantial investment in the electronics and electrical (E&E) industry of some USD4 billion or 41 per cent of the total foreign investments approved in The total approved foreign investment in 2010 was USD 9 billion. To-date, a total of 33 projects with investments amounting to USD1.26 billion has been approved from GCC Countries. The investments are mainly in basic metal products, petroleum products including petrochemicals, food products, machinery and equipment, and chemical & chemicals products. He added that GCC investments in Malaysia are mainly in mergers and acquisitions rather than in greenfield investments. There are now more GCC investments in the financial services and construction sectors in Malaysia. He encouraged investors from GCC countries to look at opportunities in priority sectors such as oil & gas, chemicals, halal food, advance electronics, tourism and healthcare. The GCC countries could leverage on their strong sovereign wealth funds to capitalize on these opportunities. After the official opening, the Ministers also launched the Malaysia UAE Business Directory, an initiative by the Malaysian-UAE Business Council with a listing of 100 businesses. Bilateral trade between the UAE and Malaysia have increased tremendously. In 2010, exports from Malaysia to UAE totalled $3.953 billion whilst imports from UAE to Malaysia reached $2.465 billion. Malaysia s chief exports to the UAE include electrical and electronic products, machinery, appliances and parts, jewellery, and palm oil. In return, Malaysia imports petroleum and chemical products from the UAE. After the launching, HH Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi and Dato Mustapa Mohamad also witnessed the exchange of Memorandum of Agreements between D Tandoor Food Industries Sdn Bhd and Malmo Representation Companies from UAE for Master Franchise of D Tandoor restaurants in UAE and between itopia Medical Services and WAPMED TPA Services Company. (End) Menara MATRADE, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 4

5 For further information on MSE 2011, please go to or contact: In GCC and surrounding countries Mr. Ahmadur Rahman Marketing Officer MATRADE Dubai GL: DL: Fax : In Malaysia Mr. Jonathan Rao Head of Corporate Communications Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation GL: DL: Fax: Mr. Giath Fawzi PR Exective Media Hub International Mob.: Tel: Fax: MSE Objectives Promote services from Malaysia to West Asia and surrounding regions (MENA) - Gain and further enhance the visibility of Malaysian services capabilities and expertise; Brand Malaysian services by showcasing Malaysian companies' achievements in the international arena; Provide an avenue for Malaysian services providers to network and forge strategic alliances with their potential clients or partners overseas; and Provide a platform for international businesses to source the best of Malaysian services for their needs About MATRADE The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) was established on March 1, 1993 as the external trade promotion arm of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Its functions are: Menara MATRADE, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 5

6 To promote, assist and develop Malaysia's external trade with particular emphasis on the export of manufactured and semi-manufactured products and services; To formulate and implement export marketing strategies and trade promotion activities to promote Malaysia's export; To undertake commercial intelligence and market research and create a comprehensive database of information for the improvement and development of Malaysia's trade; To organise training programmes to improve the international marketing skills of Malaysian exporters; To enhance and protect Malaysia's international trade investment abroad; and To promote, facilitate and assist in the services areas related to trade. Menara MATRADE, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 6